Spain’s Sánchez: ‘Climate denial is the worst fuel’

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for a national pact against what he termed a “climate emergency,” urging the opposition Popular Party (PP) to stop questioning that climate change kills. Speaking at his final press conference before the summer break, Sánchez warned that “climate denial is the worst of fuels” in a crisis. “Denying the warnings of science does not prepare us; it makes us much more vulnerable,” Sánchez said. He pointed to over 170,000 hectares burned in wildfires this year, asking, “What more has to happen?” for the right and far-right to accept that “the climate emergency kills.” Sánchez criticized the PP and the far-right party Vox for opposing climate action. He accused them of cutting funds for mitigation and adaptation policies where they govern. “It is not acceptable to have cuts in mitigation and adaptation policies,” he said. The prime minister stressed the need for a “state pact” focused on prevention, not just emergency response. “The PP wants a pact against fires, but not a pact on one of the main causes of fires: the climate emergency,” he stated. He noted that cooperation among administrations already exists for fighting fires, but a deeper agreement on prevention and rebuilding is needed. Sánchez also said the government has increased spending on fire prevention by nearly 30% and on extinction efforts by 34%. He painted an optimistic picture of Spain’s progress, citing pension increases, a higher minimum wage, and tax cuts for the self-employed. Looking ahead, Sánchez said, “One year remains to finish this term, one year to complete reforms.” He pledged to present a budget, though approval appears uncertain due to opposition from the Catalan party Junts. The prime minister has previously left open the possibility of calling early elections in early 2027 if the budget is rejected.